Nicole Marie Jean, a female version of Batman's Bane character, poses during the ComicPalooza.

Nicole Marie Jean, a female version of Batman's Bane character, poses during the ComicPalooza.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Photo: Jay Dryden

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Audrey Lovelace dressed up at Joker during the ComicPalooza.

Audrey Lovelace dressed up at Joker during the ComicPalooza.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Photo: Jay Dryden

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Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Photo: Jay Dryden

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Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Comicpalooza 2013 - Day 1

Photo: Jay Dryden

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Spencer Doe, as Batman, poses with Will Smith.

Spencer Doe, as Batman, poses with Will Smith.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Artist display work during the ComicPalooza 2013.

Artist display work during the ComicPalooza 2013.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Andrew Dansby

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Artist display work during the ComicPalooza.

Artist display work during the ComicPalooza.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Andrew Dansby

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Artist Dale Carroll works on a piece.

Artist Dale Carroll works on a piece.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Andrew Dansby

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Storm Trooper, with Rebel Legion, waits for costumers.

Storm Trooper, with Rebel Legion, waits for costumers.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Marvel Comic books and others are for sale.

Marvel Comic books and others are for sale.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Andrew Dansby

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Andrew Dansby

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Comicpalooza 2013.

Comicpalooza 2013.

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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Joy, sadness at Galacticon

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The big draw early at Comicpalooza was Galacticon, the “Battlestar Galactica” convention within a convention, which found dozens of fans dressed in the olive green and khaki colors of the 2000s-era reboot of the ’70s science fiction series along with several wearing the brown suede jackets from the original.

Galacticon started five years ago as a very small event. Co-organizer Marcel Damen — who came to Houston from the Netherlands for the event — said it began as a family-friendly cruise that included 80 fans and eight guests from the shows. But organizers wanted to expand the scope exponentially this year.

“Location was really important for this event,” Damen said. “We could’ve gone to Los Angeles or the east coast, but Houston was centrally located with so many other large cities nearby.”

Comicpalooza also provided further audience for Galacticon, which required a separate admission for fans. But Damen said Galacticon pre-sales included fans from 23 countries including New Zealand, Australia and Japan, as well as 19 states in the U.S.

More than 30 members of the “Battlestar” sphere attended, many of them there late Friday morning. The longest line was for Dirk Benedict, who played Starbuck in the original series. Clad in a t-shirt that inserted his character into the Starbucks coffee logo, Benedict was charming and engaged as he signed photos and books and stepped from behind the table to take photos with fans.

Edward James Olmos was one of the biggest names from the second “Battlestar,” and he also jumped from behind the table to pose for photos with fans, including one who appeared to be carrying a large Scarlet Macaw. Among the older “Battlestar” guests was Terry Carter, 85, who played Colonel Tigh on the original show.

Fittingly Galacticon had a tribute corner honoring actors from the series who had passed on. Damen pointed out that since the last Galacticon, actors George Murdock and Robert Feero had passed on.

“There may never be anything this big again,” he said. “Something like this may never happen again.”

For ongoing coverage of the best costumes and more this weekend at ComicPalooza check back here.